Congress has absolutely no business intervening in this situation!!!! I can't believe that the same lawmakers purporting to protect the sanctity of marriage are also trying everything they can to stick their noses into a decision that should be handled between and man and his wife, PERIOD!
While I can feel for her parents in this situation this decision is not theirs, either.
Until recently my wife was the only person that I had communicated with what my desire would be if in the same situation. That doesn't mean that her and I didn't have the conversation it just means that she was the only person I felt it necessary to have it with since I felt it would be up to her to make such a decision, not my parents!
Ive been waching these proceedings...I dont think Congress should intervene in this..they are overstepping the line here!
But maybe someone can help me understand one of the issues here...
How can all these religious groups state that her husband is acting like God in wanting to remove her feeding tube...
Isnt the placement of that tube originally acting Godly?
I mean..she would have died long ago had that tube not been placed there.
Anyhow..her family (parents, brothers, sisters) also stated that even if she did make the wishes that she be taken off medical intervention such as this..they wouldnt grant her wishes.
So..it seems as if Congress has intervened in this and given her parents the right to keep her alive even though many other family and friends stated that she had told them she would never want to be kept alive artificially.
Of course thats just my opinion....I could be wrong. (Dennis Miller)
"You might be the toughest little whacker. . .but in my world, you're about as worrisome as a cloudy day." (Dutch Dooley)
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Bad Congress!
Of course thats just my opinion....I could be wrong. (Dennis Miller)
"You might be the toughest little whacker. . .but in my world, you're about as worrisome as a cloudy day." (Dutch Dooley)
sowhatsthetruth said this in post #8 : Just how much is she worth...I mean her insurance policy...how much does the husband stand to get?
Her husband was offered one million dollars by one company to release guardianship...he refused that offer.
Another company offered him 3 million dollars...he again, refused.
I would have to believe that her insurance policy is nothing even close to those amounts...Im not even sure if she even had one to begin with...Id have to believe that she wouldnt be allowed one after the fact.
He is acting upon her wishes..as many of her friends and other family (minus parents, brother, sister) have stated that these were her wishes in court.
I know..you state that she would be better off not dying of thirst and lack of food...but again, I ask...isnt inserting the tube originally acting in a Godly way?
Of course thats just my opinion....I could be wrong. (Dennis Miller)
"You might be the toughest little whacker. . .but in my world, you're about as worrisome as a cloudy day." (Dutch Dooley)
It's a very tough issue.
I know when my Mom died she signed paperwork that said she didn't want any life support.
And if there is nothing in writing in this case...we can only trust that these people are telling the truth...that she didn't want life support in any way.
And the parents claim that she would have wanted the feeding tube.
As far as the question about whether the feeding tube was acting Godly or not...
Don't doctors act in that capacity in some way every day anyway or isn't that their job...?
I mean in the case of a heart attack...would electric shock to the heart and an injection straight to the heart be given in order to prolong someone's life?
The question really is when do we stop giving life sustaining treatment, feeding tubes...is it our decision? Do we do it when she is officially brain dead, no brain wave activity?
It's a very tough call. Especially when her wishes weren't written down.
Maybe we all should have the opportunity to make that decision known when we fill out drivers licenses...like the organ donor option.
mystic said this in post #10 : I have to wonder...who are these people voting YES in this thread?
Dont people understand how this governement works?
Balance of powers is there for a reason.
Congress shouldnt be intervening in judiciary processes.
This type of act is gonna put the Constitution in some sort of horrible crisis.
Our Constitution and our balance of powers have been screwed for a while now...I keep trying to point that out...pretty much on deaf ears though.
The judicial system is creating laws...maybe Congress feels its payback time...and Congress abdicated their sole power to declare war in 2003...so this is their attempt to get power back?
sowhatsthetruth said this in post #11 : It's a very tough issue.
I know when my Mom died she signed paperwork that said she didn't want any life support.
And if there is nothing in writing in this case...we can only trust that these people are telling the truth...that she didn't want life support in any way.
I have to respect her husband though in this case...IMO anyhow.
And the parents claim that she would have wanted the feeding tube.
True...but they also said that they wouldnt grant her wish if she told them, which leads me to think that maybe she might have.
As far as the question about whether the feeding tube was acting Godly or not...
Don't doctors act in that capacity in some way every day anyway or isn't that their job...?
I mean in the case of a heart attack...would electric shock to the heart and an injection straight to the heart be given in order to prolong someone's life?
Yes...I would agree to that...
But in the case of heart attacks...most people can still live a healthy life if saved.
her heart attack due to bulimia caused her to lose oxygen and put her in a vegetative state. She wont ever recover from this...I know her family would like to think so, but it wont happen.
Its sad...but true.
The question really is when do we stop giving life sustaining treatment, feeding tubes...is it our decision? Do we do it when she is officially brain dead, no brain wave activity?
She isnt brain dead...not the definition we think brain dead is anyhow...she is in a vegetative state being kept alive through artifical means.
I guess I should ask...could someone like this live without the tube...if not, then this should something her husband decides.
I realize he has gone on with his life...but I can see why the guy would being that he didnt think she could ever be "okay" again. I could also see why he is making the choice he has with her..she stated to him that she wouldnt want this..and he is trying to allow her those wishes.
I know Ive stated the same thing to my husband and my mom, but I guess Im gonna have to put it in writing...I would never want Congress to look away from the Constitution like they did tonight. Im angry at that.
It's a very tough call. Especially when her wishes weren't written down.
True.
Maybe we all should have the opportunity to make that decision known when we fill out drivers licenses...like the organ donor option.
Thats not a bad idea.
Of course thats just my opinion....I could be wrong. (Dennis Miller)
"You might be the toughest little whacker. . .but in my world, you're about as worrisome as a cloudy day." (Dutch Dooley)
Our Constitution and our balance of powers have been screwed for a while now...I keep trying to point that out...pretty much on deaf ears though.
Yeah...but this was doubly screwed up. They definitely went over the line on this one!
The judicial system is creating laws...maybe Congress feels its payback time...and Congress abdicated their sole power to declare war in 2003...so this is their attempt to get power back?
Payback time? They intervened to the point where we, as citizens, no long know where we stand now. I think this is scary.
Its turning into 1984 and Big Brother is gonna be involved in everything we do.
This is a crisis..IMO...a big crisis!
Of course thats just my opinion....I could be wrong. (Dennis Miller)
"You might be the toughest little whacker. . .but in my world, you're about as worrisome as a cloudy day." (Dutch Dooley)
Congress should have nothing to do with this. I only know the basics of the case as it has only started to filter through to our press in the last couple of days. But it should definately be the decision of the family, if not the whole family agreeing together, then whoever is "in charge" has the final say.
My family had a similar situation about with PEG feeding tube in my grandfather about ten years ago and my mother will have one eventually and it will be up to me to decide if and when it will ever be removed once her quality of life deteriorates.
It is not an easy decision to make and I doubt her husband has made the decision flippantly or without long hard thought. The Government would make wide-sweeping generalised laws that apply to the entire population and that will try and please everyone, which is stupid. Her husband knows what's best for HER.
03-20-2005 11:58 PM
Bad Congress!
